Compare countries

Germany vs Spain

Two places, side by side — for anyone weighing where to move.

DE flagES flag
Europe
DE flag
Germany
Capital Berlin · 83M people · Euro
Europe
ES flag
Spain
Capital Madrid · 47M people · Euro
Cost of living
Spain
$524/mo
Safety
Germany
1.1/5
Getting around
Germany
0.2/5
Culture
Spain
0.2/5
Passport reach
Spain
not scored
Airports
Spain
98M passengers/yr
Climate
Depends on you
not scored
Overall
Spain edges it, 3–2.
Across 5 scored factors, each counted once — we don't weight them for you. Healthcare, visas and tax aren't included.

Cost of living

monthly median · solo budget

Spain leads
$2,375/mo
Germany
$1,852/mo
Spain

Cost in the three biggest cities

Berlin$2,239
Hamburg$2,498
Munich$3,004
Madrid$2,244
Barcelona$2,016
Valencia$1,754

Spain is cheaper than Germany — $1,852/mo vs $2,375/mo. Germany is pricier than 32 of 41 European countries; Spain is pricier than 22 of 41 European countries.

Safety

safety index

Germany leads
3.9/5
Germany
2.8/5
Spain

Germany is safer than Spain — 3.9/5 vs 2.8/5. Germany is safer than 27 of 41 European countries; Spain is less safe than 24 of 41 European countries.

Getting around

transit & transport systems

Germany leads
3.4/5
Germany · everyday transit
3.2/5
Spain · everyday transit
3.7/5Walkability4.5/5
3.9/5Transit3.8/5
3.5/5Cycling2.9/5
3.8/5Airport access3.6/5

Germany scores higher on mobility than Spain — 3.4/5 vs 3.2/5. Germany is easier to get around than 33 of 41 European countries; Spain is easier to get around than 25 of 41 European countries.

Culture

cultural depth

Spain leads
3.7/5
Germany
3.9/5
Spain

Top cultural centers

Germany
4.8/5
Berlin
Arts
4.0/5
Köln
Arts
3.9/5
Munich
Arts
Spain
4.3/5
Barcelona
Festivals
4.2/5
Madrid
Nightlife
4.0/5
Granada
Museums

Spain scores higher on culture than Germany — 3.9/5 vs 3.7/5. Germany is richer in culture than 29 of 41 European countries; Spain is richer in culture than 31 of 41 European countries.

Passport reach

what the passport opens

Spain leads
98Visa-free destinations105
92%GDP reach92%
1139Heritage sites reachable1133

Germany's passport reaches 98 destinations visa-free to Spain's 105 — Spain opens more doors without a visa. Passport strength shifts over years of naturalisation, not months of planning, so it's a long-horizon footnote — not scored in the tally.

Airports

international connectivity

Spain leads
17Major airports24
217MAnnual passengers315M

Spain is better connected than Germany — 315M passengers/yr vs 217M passengers/yr. Germany is busier than 78 of 87 countries worldwide; Spain is busier than 83 of 87 countries worldwide. Germany sees ~3 air passengers per resident a year; Spain sees ~7 air passengers per resident a year — a derived figure, not itself ranked.

Climate

where most people live · °C

Depends on you
Germany-13°C to 31°C
Spain-5°C to 35°C
-20°0°10°30°40°

Germany runs -13°C to 31°C for most people; Spain runs -5°C to 35°C for most people. Depends on you — which range fits your tolerance is the real question here, not a score.